Mechanism for cracking nuts.



H. R. GILSON.

MBCHANISM POR. GRA

GKIN G NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20,1908.

Patented July 27. 1909.

2 SHBETS-SHEBT 1.

Dwenivr: 9 fgnryl. 622.50m,

if M195.

Wit/eases H. R. GILSON.

MEGHANISM FOR CRAGKING NUTS. APPLICATION PILPD APR. zo, 1908.

928,958. I" Patented July 2'?, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lge.

iiNiTED STATES, Pair-ENT onirica.

HENRY R. eiLsoN, or NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSieNoa or ONE-THIRD To,FRANK B. PRIEST, or LITTLEToN, MASSACHUSETTS,y AND ONE-THIRD To HARRY w.KNIGHTS, or

BROQKLINE MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISM FOR CRAGKING NUTS.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. GILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Needham, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for CrackingNuts,- of which the following description, in -connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

-This invention relates to mechanism for cracking nuts and for similarpurposes.

W'hile my invention may be used for cracking nuts of various sorts, thepresent em=- bodiment thereof is particularly adapted for cracking pecannuts.

In order that the principles of the invention may be clearly understood,I have illustrateda single type or embodiment thereof in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical, ,central sectionof one type of nut cracking mechanism em- A bodying my invention; Fig. 2is a plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section u'ponan enlarged scaleta`ken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. i is anenlarged sectional detail of the nut crackingmechanism` proper shown inFig. 1; Fig. 5 isa plan view of a nut selecting bridge piece; and Fig. 6is a plan view of a portion of the stripping mechanism for the nutcracking means.

Referrin more particularly to that single typel or em odiment of theinvention, herein selected for illustration, the framing of the machine,which may be of any desired form,-

materiaal and construction, is indicati-ed at il in Fig. 1. Preferablyin the lower portion of the frami'n ismonn'ted a main driving shaft 2(see Flgs. 1 and 2)-- havin" thereon a pulley 3, by which power may eapplied from any suitable source. y

Preferably in theuper portion of the framing are mounted (Fig. 1)V`shafts 4, 5 and 6l having thereon suitable pulleys 7 8 and 9respectively. Power maybe directly applied from the main driving shaftto any one of said pulleys. Herein a belt 10 is repL resented as passingabout. the mainv driving shaft 2 and the :pulley 11 upon the shaft 4.Encircling the puflleys 7,- 8 and' 9 is a nut conveying mechanism,herein represented as a belt 12 preferably composed of parallel sidebands or strips 12 received in circum- Specic'ation of Letters-Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1908.

Patented July 2'7, 1909.

Serial No. 428,191.-

feren-tial grooves in said pulleys and spaced apart a distance somewhatexceeding the length of the longest nuts, said bands or strips havingsecured thereto throughout their extent strips 13 of suitable materialsecured at their opposite ends to said bands or strips and eachprovided' with an opening 14e of the general contour of the nut, asindicated most clearly in Fig. 2. In the case of pecan nuts, the saidopenings are elliptical in form. The' pulleys 7 8 and 9 may be disposedin any desired relation, but herein are so mounted that the nutconveying belt is somewhat upwardly directed, as clearly indicated inFig. l. A nut hopper 15 is disposed in suitable proximity to the nutconveying belt, and herein is adjacent a portion .of the belt 16 (seeFig. 1) that is preferably but slightly inclined from the vertical.

Any suitable means may be employed if desired to maintain the nutconveying belt taut. Herein, for the purpose is indicated a pulley 17engaging the inner surface of the belt, saidpulley being mounted uponalever 18 pivoted in the framing ofthe machine vat 19. A tension spring20 enga es the opposite end of the lever to force t e upper end thereofto the right viewing Fig. 1, thereby maintaining the belt taut. y Thetension of the spring may be adjusted in any suitable manner, as by theemployment of a set screw 21, mounted in the outer end of the lever 18vand engaging the adjacent port-ion of the framing of the machine.

. The upper run of the belt 12 between the pulleys Y and 8 is receivedupon an inclined portion 22 of the framing, which preferably atasuitable point therein has one or more openings 23 and 24, as clearlyrepresented in Fig. l. Adjacent said openings, the framing of .themachine is cut away or recessed .upon the upper face, as indicated at 25and 26' to provide preferably elongated rectangular' seats for removablebri'd pieces 27 and 28,

'one of which is shown 1n detail in Fig. 5.

In the resent type ofA the invention', the

. bridge piece 27 is provided with an opening y29 of a size to permitthe discharge therethrough of the smallest sized nuts or nuts rangingfrom the smallest to any desired grade, and the bridge piece 28 isprovided with an opening to permit the discharge of .larger sized' nuts,said opening not being aol large enough to permit the discharge 'ofthenuts of the largest size which are conveyed onward bythe belt 12 to thenut cracking mechanism.. Preferably, the nut conveying belt is inclinedso that each nut will roll in the opening wherein it is received and thenuts thereof will project equally with relation to the bridge pieces 27and 28. While the openings in the bridge pieces may be graded in anydesired manner, preferably and in this type of the invention the nutsare graded according to length and notaccording t diameter. As indicatedin Fig. 2, the bridge pieces 27 and 28 are held in position respectivelyby screws 30 and 31. The recesses within which said bridge pieces areseated-preferably extend to the edge of that portion of. the framing inwhich they are formed, as indicatedin Fig. 2, to permit the withdrawalof said bridge pieces when the screws 30 and 31 have been removedtherefrom, the insertion if desired of bridge pieces for different sizedopenings, and the substitution of imperforate bridge pieces, in whichevent, all the nuts will be carried to the nut carrying mechanism. Asindicated in'Fig. 1, the nuts discharged from the bridge pieces 27 and28 are conveyed by tubes 32 and 33 to any suitable receptacles. l

The nuts to be cracked having been placed in the hopper 15 against theinner wall of the hopper and the belt 12 being movedin the direction ofthe arrow indicated in Fig. 1, some or all of the openings in the belt12, during the onward movement thereof, receive therein nuts asindicated in Fig. 1, and convey the same toward the pulley 7 the nuts ofthe smallest grade and of the intermediate grades being dischargedthrough the tubes 32 and 33. Y

Vertically disposed in the frame work, so as to receive nuts dischargedby gravity from the belt 12 as the latter passes about said pulley, is atube 34 herein represented as having a twisted portion 35 intermediateof its ends so as to turn the nuts entering said tube so thatl thelongest diameter of the nut lies 'in the plane of the sheet viewingFig. 1. In the presentv type of the invention I have represented inFigs. 1 and 2 the preferred form of mechanism to prevent clogging,comprising a tapper 36 formed as a lever with an enlarged head andpivoted yat 37 'in the framing, the opposite end of the leverterminating in -al tooth 38 engaging a toothed collar 39 mounted uponthe shaft 4. During the rotation 'of said shaft, the tapper 36 tappingagainst the tube 34 effectually prevents clogging of the nut-s therein.As represented most clearly in Fig.

3, at opposite sides of the lower or discharging end of the tube 34 'aremounted a suitable number of nut centeringA devices 40 and 41, hereinshown as two in number. Each of said devices has a plurality of'angularly arkmain driving sha-ft 2 of the machine.

ranged faces and preferably comprises an upper nut engaging arm 42 and alower nut engaging arm 43 of greater length than the upper arm in thedirection of fall of the nut from the tube. The said centering devicesare mounted upon plungers 44 and 45 respectively received forreciprocating movement i n the frame of the machine in a directiontoward and yfrom the axis of the tube 34, but in a plane sufficientlybeneath the lower end of the tube to permit the discharge of the bottomnut therefrom. Preferably the centering devices are so actuated at theproper time that the lower arms 43 receive between them a nut dischargedvfrom the tube 34, whereupon the said centering devices are furthermoved lnwardly toward each other. so as slightly to lift the nut andaccurately to center the same between the arms 41 and the arms 42. Thecentering devices may be given the described movements in any suitablemanner. Herein for the purpose a vertically disposed shaft 46 is mountedin the framing and is provided at its lower end with a beveled gear 47,with which meshes a beveled gear 48 upon a' shaft 49 suitably mounted ina hanger '50 and provided at its opposite end with a beveled gear 51meshing with a similar gear 52 upon` the As shown in Fig. 3, upon theshaft 46 is mounted a cam 53- having a cam groove 54 receiving a roll 55removably mounted upon a link 56 suitably and pivotally connected asindicatedat 57 with the plunger 45. Preferably the outer or rear end ofthe link 56 'is-forked as indicated at 58 toembrace the vertical shaft46.. Preferablythe link 56 or otherportion of the centering mechanism isprovided lwith a -yielding portion whereby the centering devices mayyield if a nut of unusually large size be presented thereto. Whileany-suitable means` may be -employed for this purpose, herein the link56 is represented as 'having a longitudinal socket 58 to receive thereina second member l59 having thereon a collar 60, between which and thesocketed portion of the link is received a coil spring 61 adapted toyield for the purpose stated. If desired, the socketed portion 58 of theling 56 may be providedwith an elongated slot 62 receiving therein atransverse pin 63 in the member 59 to maintain the parts inproper rotaryalinement. As herein indicated, both members ofthe link are suitablyguided in the framing'of the machine.`

-Asindicated clearly in Fig. 3, a lever 64 is pivoted at 65.in theframing of the machine,

the upper end thereof being pivotally connected to the 7plunger 45 andthe lowerv end thereof being pivotally connected to a forkedlink 66, themembers whereof are spaced suficiently topermit the discharge of the nutafter the nut. cracking operation. Upon the cese outer end of saidforked links is mounted a member 66) bored to receive the plunger 44;,which is suitably secured in position therein b v means of a set screw67 in said member.

\ lt will be apparent from the described illustration that a movement ofthe link 56 toward the left viewing Fig. 3 results in a movement in thesame direction of the plun- Ger 45 and centering device 41 carriedtherey, and that through the lever 6l the plunger i4 and centeringdevice 4:0 are correspondingly moved tothe right.

Any suitable mechanism may be employedplates. For this purpose, there ismounted upon the shaft- 46 (seeV Fig. 3)l a cam 70 having a cam groove71 therein receiving a roll 'jremovably mounted upon a link 73, therearend 7 4 whereof is forked .toembrace said' shaft Loand the forward-endwhereof is pivotallyconnected'as indicated at 75 to the' plate 68j.Suitably pivoted in the framing of the machine-at 76 is a lcv-er 77, theupper end whereof is loosely received upon the pin-pivotally connectedtothe link 73 and the upper plate 68, and the lower end whereof' ispivotally connected to the lower plate 69. If desired, the nut disc-haring mechanism may be provided with a yielding member to pre.-vent-breaking of the parts, if the nuts become improperly` wedged inthet-ube 34 or are ofsnch diameter as to interferel with the properoperation of the plates 68 or 69. For this purpose, l, have hereinindicated the link 73as having one. member thereof axially socketed torecelve therein a second member- P(t3-having thereon a shoulder 79 andbetween. which and a suitable portion of the first member is interposedalcoil 'spring 80 adapted Vtoyieltl underpressure If. desired, the saidmember mayl be provided with a "longitudinal slot v81, receiving thereina pin` 82 upon the` member 7 8; to maintain the parts of the link fromdisplacement.

With the described operation of the parts, it will be apparent. that anut willy be received `upon* the lower plate 69 when the same is intheposition Within the tube 34in- ,dicated in Fig.v 3 and. that intherotation of thecam thesaidlower plate69 willbe withdrawn from the. tube34 to discharge the.-

nut into the centering devices-40 and-41, the upper plate 68 bein movedinwardly asthe lowerplate is with rawn to lreceive thereon theylowestundisclriarged nut; UponA the next outward movement of" the upperplate 69,

`the sai-d lowest nut is permitted nto drop` upon. the lower plate 69which is moved in- Wardlv to receive the same, whereupon the describedcycle of operations is repeated.-

Preferably the centering devices 40 and .41 and the plates 68 and 69 ot'the nut discharge ing mechanism are so timed in operation that saidcentering devices approach eachv other just prior to the discharge ofthe-nut from the tube 34:, being moved suciently toward each other topermit the lower arms 43 to receive the nut as discharged from-the tube,whereupon a further inward movement of said centering devices towardeach other slightly elevates the nut so that thesameis" truly centeredWith respect tothe nut cracking mechanism proper.

Preferably the nut conveying mechanism, herein consisting of the belt,12, moves at aA rate of speed, suiciently high to resultin the deliveryof sulicient nuts to maintain a supply thereof in the tube 34 above the.plate 68,. notwithstanding the grading of the nuts, by the discha-r e ofthesmaller sizes through the bridge pieces 37 and 38.

of nut cracking" '80 VVhlle any suitable type mechanism pro er may` beemployed, in the present type o the invention, I' preferably use, asrepresen-ted most` clearly 1n Figs. 1 and 4l, a pair of preferablylringlike or tubular members 83 and 84: disposed in rela-` tion to eachother to receive therebetweenv the nut as itis held by the centerindevices 410 and-4l and preferably by the en s thereof, 'softhatthe-longest diameter of the nut f is inthe plane of the axis of said'members 83 and 84. l

Prior to the centerin Y of a n'ut in the manner previously descrl thesaid mem.-

`bers 83 and 8st are sufficiently separated to be out of vcontact withthe endsofthe nut. When the nut has been centered, the said tubularmembersare moved inwardly Ktoward each other so that the ends of thenut, which are usually moreor less'poinbed, are receivedl within theadjacent ends-of the' tubes, the leading edges whereof tightly grip thenut and upon the further inward movement of said tubes sever or cuttheends of the shell from the nut,the leading edges of said tubes beingsufiiciently sharp forthis purpose and so compress the interniediateportion of the shell that such intermediate portion bursts or expandskoutwardly .under the described compressive strain, after which themembers 83 and 84 are withdrawn, permittingthe nuttand shell to falltogether into, any suitable receptacle to be .thereafter readily`separated by hand. The -walls'of'- the rings or tubes 83, 84 areofsubstantial thickness, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus form end facespreferably normal -to the inner and outer surfaces of the said-rings.The meeting edges of the said inner and outer surfaces and said endfaces are suiici'entl sharp to crushinto or penetrate theshell of thestri per or e'ector 93.

-save at the extreme tip caps, where the tips ,are connected to thelnner webs of the nut that separate the portions of the kernel. Bywithdrawing these tip -caps longitudinally the inner webs are withdrawnfrom the kernel4 without breaking the latter. The ends of the nut arec'ut or severed and the nut burst open as described solely by theannular edges of the members, 83 and 84, in contradistinction to ta eredsockets ,wherein heretofore the ends o the nut have been received. .Anysuitable means may be employed to operate the nut crackin members.Herein `for the purpose (see Fig. 1) is mounted upon the main driveshaft 2 a cam 85 having-upon one face thereof a cam groove 86 adapted toreceive a roll 87 upon the lower end of a plunger 88,- which is guidedin its movement in the framing of the machine and having pivotallysecured to its upper end thelinks 89 and 9`0 of a toggle mechanism. Theopposite end of the link 90 is pivotally connected as shown to a block91 mounted for sliding movement upon the framing of the machine, theforward end of.

said sliding block being recessed to provide an annular seat 92 (seeFig. 4) wherein is removablyl seated the tubular nut cracking member 83,which may be secured in position in any suitablemanner, as by theemployment of a set screw. The 'sliding block 91 is axially recessed inthe rear of the-seat 92 to receive therein a stripper or ejector 93axially osed W/ithin the tubular nut crackin mem er 83 as shown. Asclearly shown in Fi 4, the recess in the sliding block 91 in t e rear ofthe seat 92 extends to the .upper face of the block.

Preferably and as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, a portion 94 of theframing overlies the slidin -block and is slotted as indicated-at 95.verlying s aid slot is a plate 96 (see Figs. 4 and 6) having adjacent tothe opposite ends thereof longitudinally disposed slots 97 and 98Vreceiving therein set screws 99 and 100, by means of which the saidplate 96 may be secured in position and adjusted toward and from the nutwhen positioned between the centering devices. Dependinor from the plate96 between the screws 99 and 100 is a pin 101, the upper screw threadedend whereof receives a nut 102 to secure the pin in position, and thelower end of which 1s screw threaded, as represented at 103, into Itwill be apparent( rom the escribed construction, that the sald stripperor ejector may be adjusted axially with respecttoV the nut cracking tube83 to suit different sizes of'nuts."Y

The link 89 of the toggle mechanism is piv'otally connected, asindicated at 104 (see member-adapted nut closely adjacent oneend-thereof, said- Fig. 1) to ablock 105, to which is suitably secured a.pair of parallel rods 106 and 107, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 3.Q Theopposite ends of said rods have secured thereto a block 108 (see Fig'.l), the upper portion of such block having a passage way 109 therein,annularly enlarged as indicatedat 110 to receive therein the nutcracking tube 84, which may be secured in position in any suitablemanner, as by set screw 111. Mounted within the'said passage way 109 isa stripper or ejector 112, the outer end whereof is screw threaded intoa portion 113 mounted upon the frame of the 'machina By means of saidscrew threaded portion and the nut 114 an axial adjustment is.

afforded of said stripper or ejector 'to adapt the machine for use withnuts ofy various slzes.

With the described operation of parts, it will be apparent that the nuthaving been vcracked by the described movement of said tubular, members83 and 84 toward each other, during the rotative movement of the cam 85,the continued rotation of the cam retract-s said tubular members 83 and84, moving them axially of said stationary strippers or ejector-s 93 and112, which stri the shell from said tubular members. It wi l be apparentthat the said strippers or ejectors are so positioned as to be out ofcontact with the ends of the nut that is being'operated upon, but thatthe said strippers as well as the nut cracking tubes 8 3 and 84 may beadjusted axially toward or from each other, according to the grade ofnut that -is being operated upon. 'j

It will be apparent 'that the mechanism disclosed may be simply andreadily changed so as to select for cracking nuts of any d esired grade.This may be done by substituting for the bridges 27 and 28, bridgeshaving openings therein of any' desired size. Dependent upon theselected bridge, the tubes 83 and 84, as Well as the ejectors93 and 112,may similarly be adjusted, or, if.

to result in a 'large out ut o f cracked nuts..

Having thus descri ed one type or embodiment of my invention, I desireit to be understood that although specific terms are4 employed they areused in a descriptive and generic sen and not for purposes of l1m1tation, the `sco forth in the ollowing claims.

Claims. l

1. Nut cracking mechanism comprising a ring like nut end supporting` andVsevermg -to engage t eshell' of the of the invention being setmemberhaving a shell bursting face, a suport for the opposite'end of the nut,the nut j eing -unconiined between the line of severance and the saidoppositesupport, means to move said member and said support relativelytoward each other, thereby to sever the shell closely adjacent to theend engaged by said Aring like member and to burst outwardV the entirepart of the shell intermediate of said line of severance and saidopposite support.

2. Nut cracking mechanism comprising two vring like nut end supportingand sever- .ing members adapted to engage the shell of the nut'closelyadjacent to the tips thereof, said members having opposed shell'bursting A faces, and means to move said members relatively toward eachother, thereby to sever the shellclosely adjacent to the tips and to`burst outward the entire intermediate part of the` shell.

3. Nut cracking mechanism comprising two ring like nut end supportingand severing members adapted to engage the shell of the nut closelyadjacent the tips thereof, said members having opposed shell buijstingfaces, and means to move said members relatively toward each other,thereby to sever the shell closely adjacent the tips and to burstoutward the' entire intermediate part of the shell, in combination Withnut centering means engaging the sides of the nuts v 4. Mechanism .foroperating upon nuts comprising nut conveyingmechanism, means to gradethe nut-s While being traversed by the conveying mechanism, means todischarge the nuts sin ly from the conveying cutting and shell burst-l6. Mechanism for operating upon nuts com rising nut conveying mechanism,nut ,gra ing mechanism to which the nuts are presented by the conveyingmechanism, means to discharge the nuts singly from the conveyingmechanism, nut centering mechanism adapted -tfo engage opposite sides ofthe nut, ring-like membershaving cutting edges and shell bursting facesengaging the discharged nut adjacent opposite ends, While leaving thetips free, and means to move said members relatively toward each otherto sever the tip ends of the shell and to burst the shell. f

7. Nut cracking mechanism comprising among its velements a movableconveyer having openings therein to receive the nuts singly, and of `asize permitting the discharge-of the nuts therethrough, a membersituatedbeneath said conveyer and in close proximity thereto, saidmember being provided With an opening or openings to permit'thedischarge of the nuts of a predetermined grade therethrough, after thepassage ofthe nuts through their respective openings in the conve er andpreventing the grading discharge o said nuts except through the openingor openings therein.

8. Nut cracking mechanism comprising among its elements a movableconveyer lha ving openings therein, of a size permitting the dischargeof the nuts therethrough, a member situated beneath said conveyer and inclose proximity thereto, said member having one o r more readilydetachable plates provided with openings of a size permitting thedischarge of nuts of a predetermined grade therethrough, wherebyinterchanged plates having diiierent sized openings may be employed,said member preventing the `grading discharge of j said nuts exceptthrough the opening or openings in said plate or plates.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY R. GILSON.

Witnesses: A

ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, InvING U. TowNsEND.

